Every consultation is different. This depends on the statistical background of the client and the nature of the research project. Statistical consulting is a process, and very rarely can we answer all your questions in one meeting.

Beginning the Consulting Process: The Initial Meeting 

The first consultation is primarily for the consultant to gain background information about your project and discuss your scientific question(s). Understanding the background is crucial to the analysis, since statistical analysis follows from how the data were collected and the scientific question(s) at hand. To help you prepare for your first consultation, see Preparing for the Initial Meeting below. The more prepared you are, the better we can help you. 

Preparing for the Initial Meeting  

• Have a well-defined scientific research question. This is not a statistical question. You may have more than one scientific research question, but it is helpful to focus on one initially. We suggest you discuss your research question(s) of interest with your advisor or principal investigator prior to meeting with us. The more specific and well-defined your question is, the more help we can provide.
• Bring research papers that may assist the consultant in solving your problem. If you are modeling your experiment or statistical analysis on another paper, bring that paper.
• If you are designing an experiment or observational study, discuss with your advisor or PI what is feasible for your project given budget and time.
• If you have already collected data, bring the results of any analyses already performed, including graphs, code, and results.
• If you would like to share your data, please have it cleaned, organized, and anonymized (for human subjects or proprietary data, see Data Privacy and IRB Compliance).
• Please familiarize yourself with Our Services. 

Going Forward: After the Initial Meeting

At the end of your initial meeting, your consultant will outline key action items and an estimated timeline for next steps. You’ll also receive a follow-up email with detailed notes summarizing the meeting. Subsequent consulting meetings will follow the same structure; each will end with a review of action items and timeline updates, followed by an email with notes summarizing the meeting. 

After the initial meeting, the rest of the consulting process is determined by you and your consultant. We generally meet with clients anywhere from one to three more times after the first meeting. For most projects, we aim to deliver results within one week, though initial drafts may be provided as more complex projects may require additional time. We will respond to emails within two business days.